Giant Deer of Iowa are rapidly becoming a past memory
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Your Booner has the same genes when he was 1 yr old and getting sloppy seconds! I would support a change on cell cameras. I love them, but I’ve also noticed it’s taking the “thrill” out of the chase!
Daver
PMA Member
To this point ^^ I literally just witnessed a fawn breeding a doe. I suspect it was one of the fawns of the standing doe, but can't be sure of that. The little frisker was "up" on momma trying his best, but I don't know if he is sexually mature yet and/or well, ahem, able to reach.
But he for sure was trying.This was off of Scott Blvd in Iowa City.
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
Poor guy! Evidently that even happens to some mature ones.. I hear..To this point ^^ I literally just witnessed a fawn breeding a doe. I suspect it was one of the fawns of the standing doe, but can't be sure of that. The little frisker was "up" on momma trying his best, but I don't know if he is sexually mature yet and/or well, ahem, able to reach.
This was off of Scott Blvd in Iowa City.
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
If the “biological health” was truely under threat this would be something that needs to be addressed. Pushing for regulations that eventually turn a bunch of gun hunters into crossbow hunters definitely seems counterproductive to protecting mature deer prior to and during the rut.
Copenhagen Tob
PMA Member
Is this common??????? asking for a friend
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
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I feel there’s a few things adversely affecting deer numbers and mature buck quality by default.
1) Increased predator numbers: coyotes and bobcats impacting fawn survival and replacement.
2) AG chemicals: impacting reproduction of fawns and having adverse health consequences for deer of all ages. These chemicals damage deer health, contaminate the food they consume as well as the soil and water .
3) liberalized legal hunting weapons: straight wall rifles, smokeless MLs, and crossbows. These newer weapons are far superior to traditional shotgun slugs, black powder MLs, and verticals archery tackle.
4) pestilence and disease: EHD, ( CWD to a minimal degree ), and tick infestation. The first 2 are obvious but the tick factor doesn’t get enough consideration. The deer are covered with ticks that stress them and carry numerous bacterial and viral diseases that can be fatal.
5) Over promotion of Iowa as a trophy deer Mecca: the state has been pimped by the state government itself, TV hunters, and social media. All resources are finite and the mature deer herd in a state with only 8% forest cover is a prime candidate for exploitation.
6) Technology: cell cams and drones with thermal capability ( both of these to a minor extent so far ). Left unchecked and implemented further, these 2 will finish off hunting as we know and enjoy.
7) over harvest of does and antlerless deer : self explanatory
I’m sure I left a few more out but add these 7 factors up and you have a recipe for negative impact on a fragile resource. Crying wolf, acting on emotion and expecting a benevolent state agency to rescue the situation is likely the worst thing to do. Some of these issue can be impacted by hunters themselves. Some hurdles we face are outside the control of most hunters and truly are likely to be nearly impossible to change due to lobbyists, political pressure, and financial interests.
The struggle is real and we face a formidable set of obstacles. And, the problem is far reaching, extending well beyond Iowa’s borders, to all corners of the whitetail range.
There is no easy fix for this complicated issue. Lots of folks have opposing stakes in the game and some have more resources and political clout making overcoming their desires difficult if not impossible. It’s a frustrating subject.
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1) Increased predator numbers: coyotes and bobcats impacting fawn survival and replacement.
2) AG chemicals: impacting reproduction of fawns and having adverse health consequences for deer of all ages. These chemicals damage deer health, contaminate the food they consume as well as the soil and water .
3) liberalized legal hunting weapons: straight wall rifles, smokeless MLs, and crossbows. These newer weapons are far superior to traditional shotgun slugs, black powder MLs, and verticals archery tackle.
4) pestilence and disease: EHD, ( CWD to a minimal degree ), and tick infestation. The first 2 are obvious but the tick factor doesn’t get enough consideration. The deer are covered with ticks that stress them and carry numerous bacterial and viral diseases that can be fatal.
5) Over promotion of Iowa as a trophy deer Mecca: the state has been pimped by the state government itself, TV hunters, and social media. All resources are finite and the mature deer herd in a state with only 8% forest cover is a prime candidate for exploitation.
6) Technology: cell cams and drones with thermal capability ( both of these to a minor extent so far ). Left unchecked and implemented further, these 2 will finish off hunting as we know and enjoy.
7) over harvest of does and antlerless deer : self explanatory
I’m sure I left a few more out but add these 7 factors up and you have a recipe for negative impact on a fragile resource. Crying wolf, acting on emotion and expecting a benevolent state agency to rescue the situation is likely the worst thing to do. Some of these issue can be impacted by hunters themselves. Some hurdles we face are outside the control of most hunters and truly are likely to be nearly impossible to change due to lobbyists, political pressure, and financial interests.
The struggle is real and we face a formidable set of obstacles. And, the problem is far reaching, extending well beyond Iowa’s borders, to all corners of the whitetail range.
There is no easy fix for this complicated issue. Lots of folks have opposing stakes in the game and some have more resources and political clout making overcoming their desires difficult if not impossible. It’s a frustrating subject.
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Your number 3- I saw guys arguing on a Shotgun Iowa group on FB about wanting more calibers added. They referenced "why not" "culture has changed" "cant take away our 2nd amendment" etc etc... I feel like I really wanted to insert some thoughtful comments, but you never get an intelligent conversation for the most part on FB.
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
Absolutely rediculous there are people that walk among us and vote that still cannot distinguish 2nd amendment rights from hunting regulations.
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Yes, I agree. There’s no one more pro 2nd Amendment than me but I agree it has no correlation to hunting regs. And you’re also correct, there’s no winning an argument on FB or social media. My post was not to argue or provoke anyone, just my $0.02 on an issue dear to my heart.
One more thing for Iowa guys: with all the things we’ve discussed as problems, just be glad you guys don’t have to deal with all the BS associated with baiting. That’s a rabbit hole you want to avoid at all costs.
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The 2A nut jobs that want to shoot deer with bazookas are clueless on the science and issues.
Huge 2A supporter. Shoot all the guns you want. Just certain ones have to stay out of hunting in Iowa
Huge 2A supporter. Shoot all the guns you want. Just certain ones have to stay out of hunting in Iowa
Why doesn’t Iowa allow archery only after 2nd shotgun and close that season on December 31 and Totally eliminate the Late Muzzleloader season? That should save a ton of deer. That is how Kansas does it. We do have a late antlerless in early January but the majority of people skip it. No bucks shot with gun after the 12 day gun season in early December.
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
Accoding to the DNR and others, Iowa’s late muzzleloader season was created as an alternative for people that did not enjoy hunting while all the deer drives during the shotgun seasons were going on. There are also lots of people that work in agriculture and do not have much free time until then. It does help spread out the hunting pressure and many would hate to see it go.
JNRBRONC
Well-Known Member
Yeah, and late mz the deer, depending on the weather, might be desperate for hitting a food plot.
Late ML season is one of my favorite times to hunt in multiple different states. And I don’t think late ML is negatively impacting the herd or age classes in a significant way..
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seven twenty
PMA Member
Eliminating all hunting prior to Dec 1st would no doubt increase the age structure of the herd. It would level the playing field in a sense. The big boys wouldn’t be love struck and dumbed down.
Give the archery guys all of Dec and move firearms to the last 2 weeks. Sounds like a solid plan with almost immediate results.
Bucksnbears
Well-Known Member
Perhaps I'm wrong? But..for every $eason the $tate$ can come up with, the more money in the coffer$?
hillrunner
PMA Member
Are there stats on success rates of late muzzy vs gun 1&2 ? I'm skeptical that it's as successful as some think but maybe it's just me who's eats that tag most years.
Rjack
Well-Known Member
Late muzzy had 5% of the antlered deer harvest last year 2,157 out of 43,054 antlered deer killed.
Gun 1 and 2 success rate is 35% and late muzzy is 23%. That is for all licenses.
Deer Report
Gun 1 and 2 success rate is 35% and late muzzy is 23%. That is for all licenses.
Deer Report